Maroon anemone fish. Premnas biaculeatus

Maroon anemone fish also known as the Spine cheek anemone fish. Smaller male fish are brighter red compared to the females with three narrow white bars. One variation from Sumatra exhibits a golden hue to the three bars and is sought after as an interesting aquarium specimen. The distribution range of the species does extend into Queensland only in Australia.

 

Maroons are the most aggressive of all the anemone fishes. Select mated pairs whenever available. It is possible to introduce a small male to a large female though never guaranteed. It is best to arrange a LFS to do this for you because if the attempt fails the female will almost certainly kill the male if he is not removed.  

Host anemones.
Maroon anemone fish can be found naturally hosting only in;

• Entacmaea quadricolor

Aquarium care.
Avoid capturing maroon clowns in a soft mesh net as the large cheek spines can easily entangle the head so the fish cannot back out. If this ever does happen to you carefully cutting the net is the easiest way to release the fish with out damaging it. Using a clear plastic scoop or jug to capture the fish works well. 

Maroons are the most aggressive and territorial anemone fish they are not recommended for community aquariums unless you really want them. That said they also have the most personality of all the clowns and owners of them love them despite all the bad habits. Expect to be bitten every time you hand is near them in the aquarium and they will be likely to push over and move any new corals placed near their anemone. 

Temperament is generally good with other non anemone fishes though they will defend the immediate vicinity of the host anemone.   

Do not attempt to keep maroons with other species of clown fishes. 

Feeding.
Maroons are not fussy feeders; they will readily take fresh pieces of prawn or fish, frozen commercial feeds and dry flake and pellet feeds. 

Breeding.
Maroons larva's are very small compared to other anemone fishes. Growth rates of juveniles are also quite slow in comparison. 

The larva are capable of taking rotifers as a first feed. They are best kept on rotifers for at least 8-10 days before moving them onto newly hatch brine shrimp. The larva feeds should be enriched to ensure a natural colouration and perfect bars.  

Once the larva metamorphose they can be quickly established onto crushed hydrated aquarium flake food and when they are big enough not to choke they can then be fed grated shrimp.